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Personal info

Full name
HELSTROM, Herb E "Herbert"
Date of birth
7 September 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Washington
Hometown
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington

Military service

Service number
19097043
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
20th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
7 July 1944
Place of death
Friedenau, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 2 24

Immediate family

Members
Axel C. Helstrom (father)
Anna L. (Johnson) Helstrom (mother)
Norris L. Helstrom (brother)
Evelyn B. Helstrom (sister)
Henning B. Helstrom (brother)
Dorothy V. Helstrom (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-38213
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil tefinery
MACR: 3219

More information

S/Sgt Herb E. Helstrom attended high school for 4 years and was a machinist. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Spokane, Washington on 12 August 1942.

Statement from 1st Lt James E. Wagner:
"At 1053 hours, from an altitude of 23,000 feet, at approximately 50-18N, 18-16E, B-17 No. 213 was hit by flak and the whole nose section was blown off. The aircraft then went straight down. I observed no chutes."

Statement from 2nd Lt Thomas H. Hancock:
"I first saw B-17 No. 213 at 1055 hours from 24,000 feet. It was hit by flak in bomb bay and the nose began falling apart into several pieces. Aircraft was not on fire when it dropped straight down. Either the controls were shot out or both pilot and co-pilot were killed. I saw no chutes. This was at approximately 50 deg 18 min North 18 deg 16 min East."

The entire crew of ten was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census / Washington Births, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-A, Victory Field, Vernon, Texas